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Fuji Keiko
Fuji Keiko (藤圭子) was an extremely famous Japanese Enka singer in the 70's. She is the wife of Utada Teruzane and the mother of Utada Hikaru. Her maiden name was 'Abe Junko'. Keiko was the main vocalist for the U3 Utada family project.
Keiko was born on July 5, 1951 at Iwate, and grew up in Hokkaido. Her father (Abe Souji) was a roukyoku singer and her mother played the shamisen for a living. Keiko had an upheaveled childhood, as her family toured around Hokkaido and Tohoku (much like her daughter, Utada Hikaru).
Once when her father became sick before a Hokkaidou show, Keiko decided that she would have to play the part instead. While there, a well known writer happened to hear her and suggested that she should move to Tokyo to become a singer. In September 1969, Keiko debuted with the song Shinjuku no Onna, which was a huge hit. Her next two singles, Onna no Blues and Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku also were major hits, making her extremely famous. These two songs held first and second position in Oricon charts for 40 weeks, the first and only time in Japanese music history.
After 10 years in the music business, Keiko decided to quit the music business and move to New York. There, she met Utada Tezurane, and in 1983 gave birth to an only child, Utada Hikaru. Though Tezurane and Keiko had divorced each other at one point, currently they are remarried (as of mid 2005).
Discography
Albums / Singles
- [1970.03.xx] Shinjuku no Onna ☆ Enka no Hoshi / Fuji Keiko no Subete (新宿の女 ☆演歌の星/藤圭子のすべて)
- [1970.07.xx] Onna no Blues (女のブルース)
- [1970.12.xx] Utai Tsugarete 25 Nen Fuji Keiko, Enka wo Utau (歌いつがれて25年 藤圭子、演歌を歌う)
- [1971.03.xx] Saihate no Onna (さいはての女)
- [1971.07.xx] Keiko no Jinsei Gekijou (圭子の人生劇場)
- [1971.10.xx] Fuji Keiko no Recital (藤圭子のリサイタル)
- [1971.12.xx] Shiranai Machi de (知らない町で)
- [1972.06.xx] Wakare no Tabi (別れの旅)
- [1972.05.xx] Fuji Keiko On Stage (藤圭子オンステージ)
- [1972.12.xx] Tooku e Ikitai / Enka no Tabi (遠くへ行きたい/演歌の旅)
- [1973.02.xx] Kanashimi no Machi (悲しみの町)
- [1973.06.xx] Hibotan Bakuto (緋牡丹博徒)
- [1973.09.xx] Henreki / Ashita Kara Watashi wa (遍歴/明日から私は)
- [1973.09.xx] Uramachi Jinsei / Jinsei Gekijou (裏町人生/人生劇場)
- [1973.12.xx] "Enka Zenshuu" (「演歌全集」)
- [1974.03.xx] Onna no Blues (Re-Issue) (女のブルース)
- [1974.05.xx] Kyoto no Blues (京都のブルース)
- [1974.05.xx] Meiji Ichidai Onna (明治一代女)
- [1974.06.xx] Akasaka no Yoru wa Fukete (赤坂の夜は更けて)
- [1974.07.xx] Yoru to Anata ga (夜とあなたが)
- [1974.09.xx] Keiko no Nippon Hitori Aruki (圭子のにっぽんひとりあるき)
- [1974.10.xx] Meika (命火)
- [1974.10.xx] Fuji Keiko Enka no Sekai (藤圭子演歌の世界)
- [1975.04.xx] Anata no Uwasa (あなたの噂)
- [1975.07.xx] Ikite Iru Dake no Onna (生きてるだけの女)
- [1976.06.xx] Onna Dakara (女だから)
- [1976.12.xx] Kiite Kudasai Watashi no Jinsei (聞いて下さい私の人生)
- [1977.01.xx] Nangoku Tosa wo Ato ni Shite (南国土佐を後にして)
- [1977.01.xx] Meiji Ichidai Onna (Re-Issue) (明治一代女)
- [1977.01.xx] Hibotan Bakuto (Re-Issue) (緋牡丹博徒)
- [1977.01.xx] Kiri no Mashuu Mizuumi (霧の摩周湖)
- [1977.01.xx] Onna no Iji (女の意地)
- [1977.01.xx] Kuroi Hanabira (黒い花びら)
- [1977.04.xx] Aishuu Sakaba (哀愁酒場)
- [1977.07.xx] Anata Hitosuji (貴方ひとすじ)
- [1977.12.xx] Omokage Heiya (面影平野)
- [1978.05.xx] Big Show (ビッグショー)
- [1978.12.xx] Kayou Gekijou (歌謡劇場)
- [1979.05.xx] 10 Shuunen Kinen~Namidashou! Fuji Keiko (10周年記念~涙唱!藤圭子)
- [1979.12.26] Sayonara Fuji Keiko (さよなら藤圭子)
External Links
- Fuji Keiko Online (Japanese Fansite)
- Japanese Wikipedia on Fuji Keiko